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AFC Gamma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFCG) revealed Thursday the nomination and appointment of Marnie Sudnow to its board of directors. 

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American Financial Group, Inc. 5.125% Subordinated Debentures due 2059

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has called for a new approach to Middle East policy, advocating for either a &#8220;game changing peace&#8221; or a &#8220;game changing military strategy.&#8221;
What Happened: On Thursday, Graham expressed his views on Middle East policy via X. He suggested that a significant shift in strategy is needed, either through Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel, or Israel taking military action against Iran.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">In the Middle East, we need game changing peace or game changing military strategy. Game changing peace begins with Saudi Arabia recognizing the state of Israel. Game changing military strategy begins with Israel targeting Iran, the source of chaos in the region. <a href="https://t.co/qFD9ZxQY1t">pic.twitter.com/qFD9ZxQY1t</a>
&mdash; Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1837981953150345568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Graham&#8217;s tweet comes in the wake of a series of deadly escalation between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel and Hezbollah exchanged heavy fire, with Hezbollah launching over 100 rockets into northern Israel in response to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-news-09-22-2024-fb1aa8ae061885ba86855f7fe9ec5be7">reported</a> AP on Sunday.
The conflict escalated after an Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed several people, including a senior Hezbollah commander. Hezbollah declared an "open-ended battle," while Israel launched hundreds of strikes, targeting militant sites. Both sides suffered casualties, and the situation raised concerns about the potential for a broader conflict.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40969584/trump-vs-harris-this-candidate-has-the-edge-in-latest-swing-state-polls?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Vs Harris: This Candidate Has The Edge In Latest Swing State Polls</a>
Why It Matters: The recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40924166/hezbollah-hit-in-new-round-of-explosions-across-lebanon-casualties-climb">wave of explosions</a> in Lebanon have escalated tensions in the region. The attacks, believed to be targeted at Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, have resulted in significant casualties and damage.
Lebanon recently grappled with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40924166/hezbollah-hit-in-new-round-of-explosions-across-lebanon-casualties-climb">second wave of deadly explosions</a> targeting Hezbollah, as wireless devices like walkie-talkies detonated across the country, killing at least nine and injuring over 300. The attacks, which Hezbollah blamed on Israel, followed an earlier wave of pager explosions that killed 12 and injured nearly 2,800.
Graham&#8217;s tweet and the recent events in Lebanon highlight the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Whether this will involve diplomatic recognition or military action remains to be seen.
Photo via Shutterstock
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Politics

General

Lindsey Graham Says Either Saudi Arabia Recogonizes Israel Or Tel Aviv Targets Tehran: 'We Need Game Changing Peace Or Game Changing Military Strategy'

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has once again criticized Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) for the high price of its diabetes drug, Ozempic, in the United States.
What Happened: On Sunday, Sanders took to X to express his concerns about the pricing disparity of Ozempic in the U.S. compared to other countries. 
He highlighted that generic drug companies can sell Ozempic at a profit for less than $100, while Americans are paying almost $1,000 a month for the drug. Sanders attributed this price discrepancy to corporate greed and called on Novo Nordisk to reduce the price of Ozempic.
He said, &#8220;So why does your prescription cost more than a luxury handbag?&#8221;
Sanders&#8217; post featured a video in which Zain Rizvi a Senior Health Counsel at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions stated that the rich, powerful and famous could get access to such drugs, but everyone else struggled due to the high costs of such prescriptions.
Among the issues addressed in the video was the cost of manufacturing of drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, which according to Rizvi&#8217;s video could be made under $5. Rizvi said that major pharmaceutical companies had told HELP committee that they can sell Ozempic to Americans for less than $100 a month.
&#8220;The problem? Novo Nordisk is taking companies to court to stop them from selling low-cost generic versions.&#8221;
He accused Novo Nordisk of following the big pharma playbook by putting &#8220;patents above public health.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Generic drug companies can sell Ozempic — at a profit— for less than $100. But Americans are paying almost $1,000 a month for the drug. So why does your prescription cost more than a luxury handbag? Corporate greed. Novo Nordisk must lower the price of Ozempic. <a href="https://t.co/oCROGpVxtU">pic.twitter.com/oCROGpVxtU</a>
&mdash; Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/1838005900717494781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Benzinga has reached out to Novo Nordisk and this story will be updated as soon as we receive a response.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40969978/mary-trump-says-americans-pay-the-price-as-her-uncle-sets-world-on-fire-with-his-provocations-i-worr?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mary Trump Says Americans Pay The Price As Her Uncle Sets World On Fire With His Provocations: &#8216;I Worry About What Will Happen&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: This is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/38012469/bernie-sanders-slams-outrageous-prices-of-miracle-weight-loss-drug-ozempic-mulls-meeting-with-novo-n">not the first time</a> Sanders has targeted Novo Nordisk over the pricing of Ozempic. In March it was reported that Sanders, who chairs the HELP committee, was considering holding hearings on the issue and seeking a meeting with the company's CEO to discuss reducing the drug's price. 
Ozempic is a popular diabetes drug that is also used for weight loss by suppressing appetite. Sanders expressed confidence that Novo Nordisk could be persuaded to lower U.S. prices for its weight-loss drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/07/39736330/bernie-sanders-targets-high-prices-of-ozempic-and-wegovy-in-us">exposing price disparities</a>.
He has also predicted that Ozempic will likely become one of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39515914/bernie-sanders-ozempic-will-likely-become-one-of-the-best-selling-pharmaceutical-products-in-history">best-selling pharmaceutical products</a> in history. The high cost of the drug has been a point of contention, with Sanders arguing that Americans should not be charged excessively for this drug compared to people in other countries.
Image via Shutterstock
Did You Know?
Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Health Care

Bernie Sanders Questions Why Your Monthly Ozempic Prescription Costs More Than A Luxury Handbag When It Can Be Sold For Less Than $100

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris formally referenced cryptocurrency for the first time during her election campaign, promising to safeguard the industry&#8217;s interests.
What happened: During a fundraiser at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan, the incumbent vice president marketed her pro-emerging technology agenda, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-22/harris-vows-to-grow-ai-crypto-industries-in-pitch-to-nyc-donors?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=crypto">reported </a>Sunday.&nbsp;
"We will partner together to invest in America's competitiveness, to invest in America's future. We will encourage innovative technologies like AI and digital assets, while protecting our consumers and investors," Harris said.
The first public mention of cryptocurrency elicited cheers from Harris campaign supporters.&nbsp;
Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) dubbed it a "huge" policy development and a significant reset on her positions on cryptocurrencies and blockchains.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f6a8;Huge policy news! <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamalaHarris</a> signals a very significant reset on crypto and blockchain technology. This new policy position puts her in line with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIT21?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIT21</a> House and Senate Democrats working to protect consumers and keep digital innovation in the United States. &#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8; <a href="https://t.co/tSNudVGJsw">https://t.co/tSNudVGJsw</a>
&mdash; Rep. Wiley Nickel &#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8; (@WileyNickel) <a href="https://twitter.com/WileyNickel/status/1837966805970964686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Anthony Scaramucci, CEO of investment firm SkyBridge Capital, said, "Kamala means Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) in every language."
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Kamala means Bitcoin in every language
&mdash; Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scaramucci/status/1838016216645914765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40950912/bitcoins-reserve-asset-appeal-increased-due-to-state-of-us-federal-deficit-and-debt-says-b">Bitcoin&#8217;s Reserve Asset Appeal Increased Due To State Of US Federal Deficit And Debt, Says BlackRock: A Hedge Against &#8216;Possible Future Events&#8217; Affecting The Dollar</a>
Why It Matters: Cryptocurrency has emerged as a significant election issue this year, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39136615/survey-crypto-stance-could-sway-one-third-of-2024-voters">one survey indicating that one-third of voters</a> will consider a candidate's stance on digital assets before making their political choices.&nbsp;
Former President Donald Trump has taken the lead in courting the expanding population, and the Republican contender even <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40905315/donald-trumps-new-crypto-project-world-liberty-financial-everything-you-need-to-know">launched a cryptocurrency project</a> right before the November elections.
Until the latest acknowledgment, Harris's stance on cryptocurrencies was unclear, though <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40385566/mark-cuban-gets-an-assurance-out-of-chuck-schumer-will-pass-sensible-and-long-lasting-cryp">advocacy groups like &#8220;Crypto for Harris&#8221;</a> have been trying to muster support for her and counterbalance Trump's campaign.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $63,887.21, up 1.07% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Image via Wikimedia Commons
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Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

Kamala Harris Finally Mentions Crypto And That Too On Wall Street: Promises To Encourage 'Innovative Technologies' Like Digital Assets

Peter Schiff, a prominent gold advocate and vocal critic of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), has raised concerns about former President Donald Trump&#8216;s recent promise of a Mars landing. Schiff&#8217;s critique draws parallels between current economic challenges and historical spending on space exploration and social programs.
What Happened: In a post on social media platform X, Schiff <a href="https://x.com/PeterSchiff/status/1837640136600801783">stated</a>, &#8220;The reason we had so much inflation during the 1970s was the deficit spending during the 1960s on the Great Society, the War on Poverty, the Vietnam War (we lost both wars), and going to the moon. Now, with the U.S. in worse financial shape, Trump has promised a Mars landing.&#8221;
Schiff&#8217;s remarks follow Trump&#8217;s recent <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1837592820338905214">declaration</a> that the U.S. is leading in space over Russia and China, with plans to collaborate with Elon Musk to expedite a Mars landing before the end of his term.
Meanwhile, SpaceX and Tesla Inc CEO Musk has outlined ambitious plans for Mars exploration. Musk detailed a timeline that includes launching five uncrewed Starships to Mars within two years, with potential crewed missions in four years if these initial landings prove successful.
Musk emphasized the importance of making Mars travel accessible, stating, &#8220;We want to enable anyone who wants to be a space traveler to go to Mars!&#8221; He also expressed concerns about regulatory hurdles, noting that &#8220;the Starship program is being smothered by a mountain of government bureaucracy that grows every year.&#8221;
In response to Musk&#8217;s post, Schiff commented, &#8220;I have no issues with SpaceX going to Mars. I just don&#8217;t want the government to do it.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I agree that democrats are worse than republicans. But there are plenty of republican supported regulations that also need to be repealed. Hopefully you will be able to help bring that about. I have no issues with SpaceX going to Mars. I just don&#39;t want the government to do it.
&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1837922682081366157?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40970828/data-scientists-election-prediction-kamala-harris-receives-historic-endorsement-from-magazine-elon-m">Data Scientist&#8217;s Election Prediction, Kamala Harris Receives Historic Endorsement From Magazine, Elon Musk Suggests Warren Buffett Is Preparing For A Harris Win And More: Top Political Update This Week</a>
Why It Matters: The debate over space exploration has intensified recently, with Musk facing regulatory hurdles for SpaceX. Rep.&nbsp;Kevin Kiley&nbsp;(R-Calif.) recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40972034/elon-musk-responds-as-california-congressman-slams-bureaucratic-roadblocks-for-spacex-program-agenci">praised SpaceX&#8217;s Polaris Dawn</a> mission but criticized bureaucratic obstacles. The mission, which launched on Sept. 10, saw a private crewed spaceflight reach the farthest distance from Earth since NASA&#8217;s Apollo program.
Additionally, Musk&#8217;s recent endorsement of Trump for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/09/40971977/elon-musk-says-biden-belied-his-2020-expectations-and-turned-out-to-be-a-radical-leftist-puppet-why">2024 presidential race</a> has added another layer to the political discourse. Musk, who previously leaned towards Joe Biden, now describes him as a &#8220;radical leftist puppet.&#8221;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40971374/elon-musk-responds-to-venture-capitalists-claim-on-government-subsidies-for-spacex-tesla-do-some-res">Elon Musk Responds to Venture Capitalist&#8217;s Claim On Government Subsidies For SpaceX, Tesla: &#8216;Do Some Research Before You Display Your Utter Ignorance&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Images via Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

SPACE

Trump's Mars Landing Promise Gets Slammed By Peter Schiff Even As Elon Musk Says SpaceX Plans 5 Launches To Red Planet In 2 Years: 'Just Don't Want The Government To Do It'

Jeff Bezos-backed Perplexity AI, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37421021/this-jeff-bezos-backed-ai-tool-can-replace-search-engine-for-many-people-says-top-ex-googler-but-the">a&nbsp;startup challenging</a>&nbsp;Alphabet Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, is in discussions with top brands like Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) and Marriott International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>).
What Happened: Perplexity&nbsp;is developing a &#8220;sponsored&#8221; question system to challenge Google&#8217;s auction-based ads model, as it plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40523773/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-ai-gears-up-to-integrate-ads-in-search-results-taking-a-leaf-out-of-goo">disrupt the tech giant&#8217;s dominance</a> in&nbsp;the $300 billion digital ads industry, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ecf299f4-e0a9-468b-af06-8a94e5f0b1f4">reported</a> Financial Times.
The San Francisco-based startup has been in talks with a select group of top-tier companies, including&nbsp;Nike&nbsp;and&nbsp;Marriott, with plans to launch the ads system by year-end.
Perplexity&#8217;s new model allows brands to bid for a &#8220;sponsored&#8221; question featuring&nbsp;an AI-generated answer approved by&nbsp;the advertiser.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32623067/how-to-take-the-perfect-moon-shot-using-an-iphone-14?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How To Take The Perfect Moon Shot Using An iPhone 15</a>
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, a former Google intern, stated, &#8220;Ads are really useful when they are relevant and coming from brands that are high quality, and a lot of people make purchases based on that.&#8221;
Srinivas expressed his ambition for the advertising system to become &#8220;a money-printing machine.&#8221;
The startup&#8217;s ad system will charge marketers on a CPM basis, costing&nbsp;above $50 for every 1,000&nbsp;impressions generated by these sponsored&nbsp;posts.
This is in stark contrast to Google&#8217;s&nbsp;estimated $1,100 for the same&nbsp;number of impressions, the report noted.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters:&nbsp;In April earlier this year, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38398735/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-ai-is-now-a-unicorn-after-latest-fundraise-softbanks-masayoshi-son-nvid">Perplexity&nbsp;became a unicorn</a>, following a successful funding round that more than doubled its valuation to over $1 billion.
The startup&#8217;s revenue and usage have grown 700% since the start of the year, with the AI-powered search engine answering about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entrepreneurship/24/08/40292703/perplexity-ais-revenue-usage-skyrocket-as-it-enters-into-advertising">250 million questions in the last month</a>, up from 500 million queries for all of last year.
Perplexity investors include AI chipmaker&nbsp;Nvidia Corporation, Amazon&nbsp;founder&nbsp;Bezos,&nbsp;OpenAI&nbsp;co-founder&nbsp;Andrej Karpathy, and&nbsp;Meta Platform Inc.&#8216;s chief AI scientist&nbsp;Yann LeCun.
In June, Forbes and Wired accused Perplexity of plagiarism, alleging that the AI startup replicated articles without proper attribution and accessed websites that had specifically blocked its crawlers.
Perplexity acknowledged the claims in response, stating that the company had updated its user interface to highlight citations more clearly and adjusted its system to avoid summarizing content from such websites.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40851084/mark-cuban-was-once-tending-a-bar-in-dallas-but-quickly-realized-he-wasnt-great-at-working-for-peopl?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Was Once Tending A Bar In Dallas But Quickly Realized He Wasn&#8217;t Great At Working For People</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

Media

GOOG

GOOGL

Jeff Bezos-Backed Perplexity AI In Discussion With Marriott And Nike As It Prepares To Challenge To Google's Dominance

&#8220;Shark Tank&#8221; fame billionaire Mark Cuban recently slammed hedge fund manager and founder of Pershing Square Capital Management Bill Ackman&#8217;s views on the candidacy of Kamala Harris.
What Happened: Cuban responded to a post by Bill Ackman, which criticized Harris&#8217;s candidacy and the circumstances surrounding her rise to the presidential nominee position. Ackman accused Harris of being complicit in what he called &#8220;the greatest lie ever told to the American people by our government,&#8221; referring to the health status of former President Joe Biden.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Let's not forget that <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> Biden was the Democratic presidential candidate 63 days ago. We were told by the administration and the media that Biden was in perfect health and that videos of him exhibiting serious deterioration were ‘right wing propaganda.' Then, threatened… <a href="https://t.co/QHtVdhawJY">https://t.co/QHtVdhawJY</a>
&mdash; Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1837777743464865852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40953535/anybody-who-votes-for-a-democrat-or-kamala-worst-you-should-have-your-head-examined-trump-tells-vote?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Anybody Who Votes For A Democrat Or Kamala, Worst…You Should Have Your Head Examined:&#8217; Trump Tells Voter</a>
Ackman also expressed his disappointment with Harris&#8217;s campaign strategy, accusing her of evading direct questions about the economy, the border, or foreign policy. He suggested that her campaign was a blatant attempt to say what she needs to say to get elected.
Cuban said in <a href="https://x.com/mcuban/status/1837833875571069414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1837833875571069414%7Ctwgr%5E8e4c71f4fa37fc5a73a1c473e778646c0b22e9c3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.benzinga.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D560083action%3Dedit">response</a>: &#8216;When the competition hires a new CEO and she is kicking your a&#x2A;&#x2A; …&#8217;
Why It Matters: Cuban&#8217;s critical response to Ackman&#8217;s thread comes amidst a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40971721/voters-warm-to-kamala-harris-as-election-nears">surge in Harris&#8217;s popularity</a> Recent polls suggest a slight advantage for Harris over Trump, with a Morning Consult poll showing Harris leading by 6 percentage points nationwide.
Notably, Cuban, a supporter of the vice president, had previously expressed some skepticism about Harris&#8217;s economic proposals. In August, he engaged in a storm of posts about Harris&#8217;s economic plans, particularly around the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40544099/mark-cuban-responds-to-kamala-harris-economic-plan-with-dozens-of-tweets-says-she-didnt-mention-">issue of price controls</a>.
Cuban&#8217;s relationship with Donald Trump, the other presidential candidate, has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/08/40582769/mark-cuban-now-calls-trump-a-snake-oil-salesperson-but-reveals-they-were-once-so-friendly-that-trump">complicated</a>. He once referred to Trump as a &#8220;snake oil salesperson,&#8221; but admitted they were once on good terms, with the former president even seeking his advice on stocks at one point.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Mark Cuban Issues A Stinging Retort To Bill Ackman's Attack On Kamala Harris: 'She Is Kicking Your A**…'

Former President Donald Trump has declared that he will not pursue another presidential run if he is defeated in the forthcoming November election.
What Happened: Trump, in a conversation with Sinclair Broadcast Group&#8217;s &#8220;Full Measure&#8221; on Sunday, dismissed the idea of another presidential run if he loses the upcoming election, as reported by <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-run-loses-november/story?id=113910212">ABC News</a>.
When asked by host Sharyl Attkisson about another run, he replied, &#8220;I don&#8217;t see that at all. I think that, hopefully, we&#8217;re going to be successful.&#8221;
Trump, currently the oldest presidential nominee in history, is in the race following President Biden&#8217;s decision not to run for the 2024 election. Age and mental acuity have been significant concerns in this election cycle.
Amid his third presidential bid, Trump has been balancing his campaign activities with court appearances related to four criminal cases against him.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/09/40954613/kim-jong-uns-show-of-force-with-missiles-indicates-north-korea-is-no-longer-interested-in-negotiatio?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kim Jong Un&#8217;s &#8216;Show Of Force&#8217; With Missiles Indicates North Korea Is No Longer Interested In Negotiations</a>
Why It Matters: The 2024 presidential election has seen a tight contest between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Recent polling data, including over 20 swing-state polls conducted post the September 10 debate, suggests a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40969584/trump-vs-harris-this-candidate-has-the-edge-in-latest-swing-state-polls">slight lead</a> for Harris over Trump. 
Despite Harris trending upwards in the polls, Trump has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/09/40949853/harris-in-trouble-new-swing-state-poll-shows-trump-gains-ground-in-key-battleground-areas-for-20">gaining ground</a> in key battleground areas. The election could hinge on the results from these swing states. 
Meanwhile, Harris has seen a surge in popularity with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40971721/voters-warm-to-kamala-harris-as-election-nears">significant uptick</a> in her favorability. This shift is noteworthy, given her previously low polling figures. 
Check This Out:
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<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Trump Says No To Another Run If He Loses 2024 Election To Kamala Harris: 'Hopefully, We're Going To Be Successful'

House GOP leaders have put forth a three-month plan to keep the government funded, in the wake of Speaker Mike Johnson&#8217;s (R-La.) initial plan failing due to Republican opposition.
What Happened: The continuing resolution (CR) was a product of bipartisan negotiations in the House and Senate. The resolution, which maintains current funding levels until December 20, sets the stage for a holiday funding battle. The three-month timeframe is a reduction from Johnson&#8217;s initial six-month proposal and notably omits a Donald Trump-endorsed measure requiring proof of citizenship to vote, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4892931-government-funding-continuing-resolution-deal-mike-johnson/">reported</a> The Hill.
Republican leaders aim to bring the bill to a floor vote by Wednesday, with the goal of sending it to the Senate before the September 30 shutdown deadline. Johnson warned Republicans against a shutdown, stating in a &#8220;Dear Colleague&#8221; letter, &#8220;As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice.&#8221;
The bill also earmarks $231 million for the Secret Service, which has recently come under scrutiny following an apparent second assassination attempt against former President Trump. Johnson characterized the legislation as &#8220;a very narrow, bare-bones CR including only the extensions that are absolutely necessary.&#8221;
House Republicans will likely require Democratic support to pass the legislation, as many GOP lawmakers are anticipated to oppose the bill due to the lack of spending cuts, shorter timeframe, and exclusion of the voting bill. The bill&#8217;s passage may face obstacles as it will need to clear a procedural vote, which are traditionally party-line affairs.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40967938/jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-calls-for-federal-employees-to-return-to-office-says-empty-buildings-bother?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Calls For Federal Employees To Return To Office, Says Empty Buildings &#8216;Bother&#8217; Him: &#8216;I Can&#8217;t Believe&#8230;&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: This development follows the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40931809/house-republicans-reject-their-own-funding-bill-as-government-shutdown-looms-mike-johnson-says-we-ha">rejection</a> of Speaker Johnson&#8217;s initial funding bill by House Republicans. The failure of the bill complicated efforts to avert a government shutdown at the end of the month.
Earlier, Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), had warned of potential blame for a government shutdown due to "Republican poison pills." He cautioned that the American public would hold Republicans accountable if a shutdown occurs.
Photo via Shutterstock
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<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

House GOP Leaders Pitch 3-Month Funding Plan, Drop Trump-Backed Voter ID Proposal: Mike Johnson Says Shutting Government Down 40 Days From Election Is 'Political Malpractice'

With over 100 patents and 30 years of experience in food, pharmaceutical, and cannabis packaging, Jim Sanfilippo is transforming cannabis safety.
His groundbreaking cryogenic pasteurization technology at VIST Labs is solving one of the industry&#8217;s dirtiest secrets: microbial contamination.
Operating in a $35 billion market, Sanfilippo's innovations are crucial for cannabis brands striving to maintain product integrity while navigating complex regulatory challenges.
<ul>
<li>Get Benzinga's exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://newsletteremail.benzinga.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. You can&#8217;t afford to miss out if you're serious about the business.</li>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">From Nuts To Frozen Nuggs</h3>
Sanfilippo's expertise in packaging dates back to his family's food business, where his innovations in oxygen-free packaging for nuts led to breakthroughs in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. He has spent decades optimizing shelf life and safety. In 2017, after selling two divisions of his business to packing behemoth Sonoco, he turned his attention to cannabis.
&#8220;Cannabis is a $35 billion industry in the U.S.,&#8221; Sanfilippo said, noting that its microbial contamination issues are particularly concerning​.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cryogenic Pasteurization: The Cannabis Industry's Dirty Little Secret</h3>
At the heart of <a href="https://vistlabs.com/">VIST Labs' breakthrough</a> is the cryogenic pasteurization process, which leverages medical-grade cryogenic vapor to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/40820581/want-organic-cannabis-operators-are-turning-to-this-tech-to-save-millions-and-get-certified"> sterilize cannabis products</a> while preserving their natural properties. "Cannabis is heavily contaminated with yeast, mold, and pathogens like Aspergillus," Sanfilippo explained.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="685" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21191401/DSC06585-1024x685.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-559846" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21191401/DSC06585-1024x685.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21191401/DSC06585-300x201.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21191401/DSC06585-768x513.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21191401/DSC06585.jpg 1300w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Courtesy of VIST </figcaption></figure>
He says that traditional methods, such as gamma <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/02/30699860/from-food-to-cannabis-buds-x-rays-are-transforming-supply-chains-an-expert-explains-how-and-why">radiation</a> or ozone, can damage cannabinoids and terpenes, leading to degraded quality.
How does it work?
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Freeze Microbes! </h3>
VIST&#8217;s solution reduces oxygen levels to a point where oxidation and microbial growth are halted, without affecting the product's integrity​. The process begins by placing cannabis into a product cassette, holding 4-5 pounds. This cassette is loaded into the pasteurization machine &#8211; a refrigerator-sized unit &#8211; where the chamber is then prepared with cryogenic vapor.
In the next step, the vapor-induced sterilization chamber (VIST chamber) is activated. Inside this chamber, cryogenic vapor, which is created by boiling off liquid nitrogen at -320 degrees Fahrenheit, mixes with a medical-grade atmosphere.
Within 90 to 150 seconds, the vapor floods the chamber, bringing oxygen levels to extremely low concentrations (around 95% cryogenic vapor), which kills harmful microbial organisms like <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/07/39584632/mold-and-yeast-sixth-marijuana-recall-this-year-hits-colorado-cannabis-dispensaries">Aspergillus, E. coli, and Salmonella</a>.
After the sterilization, the product is quickly cools down using liquid nitrogen, preventing oxidation during the process. Finally, the cannabis is purified with a HEPA filtration system, removing any remaining airborne contaminants and ensuring stability as the product is packaged in aseptic, low-oxygen conditions​.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40941818/how-this-cheese-aging-tech-is-boosting-profits-for-cannabis-growers-stop-throwing-cheddar-out-the-do">How This Cheese-Aging Tech Is Boosting Profits For Cannabis Growers: Stop Throwing Cheddar Out The Door</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Modular Solution For Cannabis Business</h3>
VIST Labs' cryogenic pasteurization machines are designed to be modular, offering flexibility for mid-sized cultivators as well as large-scale operations. "We can run it in cassette mode at 25 pounds per hour, or upgrade to our high-output configuration, reaching up to 40 pounds per hour," Sanfilippo told Benzinga.
VIST Labs' cryogenic pasteurization system isn't just a machine, it's a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/08/33579692/cannabis-robots-meet-the-company-boosting-efficiency-and-margins-through-packaging-automation"> fully integrated packaging solution</a>. After the sterilization process, the product is transferred into a bulk device that packs cannabis into different bag sizes, from one to ten-pound bags, or a pouch line for smaller quantities like an eighth-ounce. &#8220;We have the cooler, a pouch bagger, and other parts working together to maintain the product in a near-zero oxygen atmosphere," Sanfilippo explained.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="600" height="600" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21190952/AMAPS-Equipment.png" alt="" class="wp-image-559842" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21190952/AMAPS-Equipment.png 600w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21190952/AMAPS-Equipment-300x300.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21190952/AMAPS-Equipment-150x150.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Courtesy of VIST </figcaption></figure>
This scalability makes VIST's technology accessible to a wide range of businesses, whether they are aiming for compliance in medical markets or looking to protect their medical-grade level crop for export.
The company's aseptic packaging solutions meet European Pharmacopoeia standards, ensuring <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39442869/2-9b-european-cannabis-market-a-strategic-blueprint-for-cross-border-transportation-logistics">compliance </a>in both domestic and international markets.
VIST's technology is also forward-thinking, preparing cannabis brands for potential federal legalization. With the increasing possibility of federal oversight, Sanfilippo notes that stricter regulations, especially around truth-in-labeling, will make compliance technologies like theirs essential for long-term success.
&#8220;With our system, we're offering crop-year protection and complete microbial control for up to a year," Sanfilippo said, noting that VIST expects to pack close to 150 million pounds of outdoor-grown cannabis in 2023 alone​.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Contamination And Mislabeling&#8230;Not A Problem</h3>
Beyond decontamination, VIST's system tackles a major issue in the cannabis industry: the degradation of THC potency over time. Inconsistent oxygen levels in packaging lead to mislabeled products, which can result in recalls and regulatory action.
&#8220;Within 45 to 50 days, THC levels can degrade by 10% or more, rendering the label claims false,&#8221; said Sanfilippo. VIST's modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) ensures stability for up to a year, keeping products compliant and safe.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40298228/think-you-can-do-it-all-20-000-reasons-why-automation-outperforms-a-broad-approach-in-cannabis">Think You Can Do It All? 20,000 Reasons Why Automation Outperforms A Broad Approach In Cannabis</a>

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X-Rays, Microwaves And Now What? This Company Freezes Weed At -320°F To Kill Mold And Save A Ton

This week, the Federal Reserve's decision to reduce interest rates by 50 basis points boosted share prices across the technology, construction, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40937291/bank-stocks-hit-inflection-point-after-feds-50-basis-point-cut-analyst-reveal-top-p" rel="noreferrer noopener">industrial, machinery, and financial sectors</a>.
These seven mid-cap stocks were the best performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?
<ol>
<li>Edgewise Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWTX#NASDAQ">EWTX</a>) shares rocketed 50.19% after the company announced topline data of EDG-7500 from the Phase 1 trial in healthy subjects and the single-dose arm of the Phase 2 CIRRUS-<a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40940696" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HCM trial in patients with obstructive HCM</a>.</li>
<li>Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLCO#NYSE">BLCO</a>) stock gained 28.36% after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40884021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly considering a sale</a>.</li>
<li>Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHC#NYSE">BHC</a>) shares upped 27.06%. The company's subsidiary Bausch + Lomb Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLCO#NYSE">BLCO</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40884021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">is reportedly considering a sale</a>.</li>
<li>Ascendis Pharma A/S (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASND#NASDAQ">ASND</a>) stock gained 26.87% last week after the company announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40882593" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">topline data from</a> its pivotal approach trial of a rare dwarfism candidate.</li>
<li>Nuvalent Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUVL#NASDAQ">NUVL</a>) stock gained 23.50% after the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40865049" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highlighted results for its ROS1 and ALK-Positive NSCLC programs</a> and accelerated its development timeline. The company also announced a $350 million public offering, and multiple firms raised their respective <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/nuvl/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecasts on the stock</a>.</li>
<li>Powell Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POWL#NASDAQ">POWL</a>) stock gained 22.61% last week as stocks in the broader industrial space jumped following the Fed's announcement to cut rates by 50 basis points, which could support investment and economic growth.</li>
<li>GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDS#NASDAQ">GDS</a>) shares jumped 21.28%.</li>
</ol>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/09/40972060/novo-nordisk-chewy-and-fedex-are-among-top-10-large-cap-losers-last-week-sept-15-sept-21-are-the-o" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Novo Nordisk, Chewy And FedEx Are Among Top 10 Large Cap Losers Last Week (Sept 15-Sept 21): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?</a></li>
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Photo by JHVEPhoto via Shutterstock

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EWTX

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POWL

Bausch & Lomb And Edgewise Therapeutics Are Among Top 7 Mid Cap Stock Gainers Last Week (Sept 15-Sept 21): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

These ten large-cap stocks were the worst performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?
<ol>
<li>Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMMT#NASDAQ">SMMT</a>) stock declined 23.61%. The company announced that data for the novel, potential first-in-class investigational bispecific antibody, ivonescimab, was presented <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40873837" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at the 2024 ESMO Annual Meeting</a>.</li>
<li>Joint Stock Company Kaspi.kz (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KSPI#NASDAQ">KSPI</a>) stock tumbled 21.66% after Culper Research <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40943334" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">issued a short report on the company</a>.</li>
<li>BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMRN#NASDAQ">BMRN</a>) stock lost 16.74% last week <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40885653" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following strong dwarfism drug data</a> from rival Ascendis Pharma (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASND#NASDAQ">ASND</a>).</li>
<li>Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>) lost 13.26% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40961732" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">last week</a>.</li>
<li>FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) stock fell 11.08% after the company reported worse-than-expected Q1 financial results and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40948046" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cut FY25 guidance</a>.</li>
<li>BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNTX#NASDAQ">BNTX</a>) stock decreased 9.01%. Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) and BioNTech received positive CHMP opinion for omicron KP.2-adapted <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40956192" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID-19 vaccine in the European Union</a>.</li>
<li>Arthur J. Gallagher &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AJG#NYSE">AJG</a>) stock fell 7.17%. Several analysts raised <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ajg/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the price target on the stock</a>.</li>
<li>Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHWY#NYSE">CHWY</a>) shares declined 6.97% after the company announced a selling stockholder&#8217;s public offering of shares <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40949015" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">and a concurrent share repurchase</a>.</li>
<li>Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) stock fell 6.93% after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40961934" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">headline results from the mid-stage study</a> of monlunabant in obese patients.</li>
<li>Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MUSA#NYSE">MUSA</a>) shares fell 6.90% after JP Morgan downgraded the stock from Neutral to Underweight but raised its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/musa/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price target from $415 to $435</a>.</li>
</ol>
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/09/40972008/constellation-energy-li-auto-and-carvana-are-among-top-11-large-cap-gainers-last-week-sept-16-sept" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Constellation Energy, Li Auto And Carvana Are Among Top 11 Large Cap Gainers Last Week (Sept 16-Sept 20): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Large Cap

BMRN

BNTX

CHWY

KSPI

MUSA

RIVN

SMMT

Novo Nordisk, Chewy And FedEx Are Among Top 10 Large Cap Losers Last Week (Sept 15-Sept 21): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

Many people in their 20s deal with credit card debt or student loans, sometimes thinking they'll figure it out later. But what happens when that debt piles up to nearly a million dollars? That's the reality a 29-year-old named Channing from Washington D.C. faced during an episode of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40838359/dave-ramsey-says-youre-wasting-5-000-a-year-if-you-spend-13-70-a-day-on-things-you-dont-need">The Dave Ramsey Show.</a>
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Channing and her husband were grappling with nearly $1 million in debt, a number that had Ramsey quickly diving into tough-love mode. Sure, he's seen scenarios where people are in over their heads with debt, but at just 29, this was particularly alarming to Ramsey.&nbsp;
Channing, who recently married, explained, "My husband and I have probably just under a million dollars in debt and we want to know how to get debt-free without filing for bankruptcy." The breakdown included <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40420920/we-have-the-highest-credit-card-debt-in-the-history-of-earth-says-grant-cardone-america-needs-to">$335,000 in student loans</a>, $136,000 in credit cards and $44,000 in personal loans. Their combined household income was about $230,000 a year.
Trending: Founder of Personal Capital and ex-CEO of PayPal<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/evergreen-money"> re-engineers traditional banking with this new high-yield account — start saving better today.</a>
Ramsey didn't hold back. After calculating the staggering numbers, he addressed the couple's situation bluntly. "You guys have been living at about 10x where you're going to get to live for the next three years," Ramsey said. "I'm getting ready to destroy your life as you know it."
"You've gotten used to spending like you&#8217;re in Congress," he scolded. He was clear that their lifestyle needed a complete overhaul. Ramsey emphasized that their financial habits would have to change drastically, stating, "You're not gonna see the inside of a restaurant unless it's your extra job or you're waiting on someone you work with during the day." He added, "You're gonna be living on beans and rice, rice and beans."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/charlie-munger-100k">Charlie Munger said if you want to be rich, &#8220;find a way to get your hands on $100,000&#8221; — here&#8217;s what he means.</a>
Ramsey went on to stress the emotional and spiritual challenges ahead. "Your friends are going to think you've lost your mind and your mother is going to think you need counseling," he warned, adding that both Channing and her husband would need to stop caring what others think if they wanted to tackle their debt successfully.
He also shared a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/03/37588475/dave-ramsey-shares-he-went-bankrupt-and-lost-everything-years-ago-while-empathizing-with-caller-">personal connection to their situation</a>, saying, "This is exactly what I did in my 20s. I bought and purchased a lifestyle that was 5x to 10x what I had. It was all because of crap inside of me that caused me to do that."
Trending: Elon Musk&#8217;s secret mansion in Austin revealed through court filings.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elon-musk-secret-mansion-austin-nada"> Here&#8217;s how to invest in the city&#8217;s growth before prices go back up.</a>
Ramsey's advice wasn't just about cutting expenses but about confronting the mindset that had led to their financial missteps. "The problem is what's going on inside you guys," Ramsey said. "You're on a suicide mission right now."
The tough conversation ended on a hopeful note, though. Ramsey assured Channing that while the journey would be difficult, it was possible. "You can do it, though," he said. "I know. I'll help you."
Channing and her husband are now facing a major lifestyle change to climb out of their nearly $1 million debt, with Dave Ramsey's guidance <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/can-you-guess-how-many-americans-successfully-retire-with-1-million-saved">pointing them toward a more financially stable future</a>. Sometimes debt happens, but at least they're taking steps to address the issue and make changes before they're left resorting to more extreme options such as bankruptcy.
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Personal Finance

Dave Ramsey Tells 29-Year-Old $1M In Debt And Spending Like She's In Congress: 'I'm Getting Ready To Destroy Your Life As You Know It'

Elon Musk, the billionaire who runs ventures such as Tesla, SpaceX and Neuralink, is a polarizing figure. The billionaire recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40968413/elon-musk-reacts-after-cathie-wood-labels-gavin-newsoms-threat-to-sue-tesla-ceo-over-memes-unconstit">earned the wrath of California Gov. Gavin Newsom </a>over artificial intelligence political deepfake videos shared on X social-media platform but has received commendation from a congressman from the state.
Amazing Company: Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) applauded Musk&#8217;s SpaceX for its Polaris Dawn mission in a speech at the House and also voiced concerns regarding the regulatory clampdown on the company, a video clip of the speech shared by an X platform user <a href="https://x.com/DimaZeniuk/status/1837599107327619318">showed.</a>
Polaris Dawn, a private crewed spaceflight&nbsp;operated by&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;on behalf of&nbsp;Shift4&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Jared Isaacman, was launched on Sept. 10. Isaacman and his crew of three, namely Scott Poteet,&nbsp;Sarah Gillis&nbsp;and&nbsp;Anna Menon, flew in an&nbsp;elliptic orbit&nbsp;that took them 1,400 kilometers away from Earth, the farthest anyone has been since NASA&#8217;s&nbsp;Apollo program. The crew also performed the first commercial spacewalk. 
Talking about SpaceX, Kiley said it was started in California and that he had the opportunity to tour its facility a few years back. It truly is an amazing company and is vital to the U.S.&#8217; leadership when it pertains to space and is also vital to the national security, he said. He also noted that NASA is now relying on SpaceX to bring home <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40541938/nasa-chooses-spacex-over-boeing-for-stranded-astronauts-return-starliners-future-in-doubt">two of its astronauts who are stranded at the International Space Station.</a>
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Government&#8217;s Vindictiveness: Despite SpaceX being a tremendous asset, the company is being targeted in multiple ways and for frivolous reasons, Kiley said. He noted that the Federal Aviation Administration recently fined $633,000 for trivial non-safety related reasons.
The federal agency has delayed flight five of Starship for two months, also for non-safety related reasons, he said, adding that roadblocks are being thrown in its way.
&#8220;We continue to be stuck in the reality where it takes longer to do the government paperwork to license a rocket launch than it does to design and build the actual hardware,&#8221; Kiley said. &#8220;There simply should not be delays related to paperwork or bureaucracy; The FAA and related agencies need to prioritize enabling launches and not standing in their way.&#8221;
Responding to the Congressman&#8217;s speech, Musk said it is &#8220;much appreciated.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Much appreciated
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1837704322622099748?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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 Why It&#8217;s Important: Musk has endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, likely warded off by the Biden administration&#8217;s failure to acknowledge Tesla as the leader in green energy vehicle manufacturing, the Democratic party&#8217;s failure to control infiltration of undocumented immigrants and the party&#8217;s leftist agenda.
Recently, Newsom criticized Musk for sharing a deepfake video on Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic Party&#8217;s nominee, on X. The governor has now signed a law, banning the use of AI-generated deepfakes in political campaigns.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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</ul>

Government

Elon Musk Responds As California Congressman Slams Bureaucratic Roadblocks For SpaceX Program: 'Agencies Need To Prioritize Enabling Launches And Not Standing In Their Way'

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/01/36763638/warren-buffett-accumulated-99-of-his-net-worth-after-turning-50-and-didnt-become-a-billionaire-until">who has tasted huge success in the investment world</a>, has a philosophical take on what defines success. His take on success and his success mantra are worth emulating to keep anyone on an even keel.
Buffet&#8217;s Take On True Success: If you get to be 65 years, or 70 years and later, and the people that you want to love you actually love you, you are a success, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr6MMsoWAog">said</a> Buffett in an interview with Yahoo Finance in 2019.
He also made the point that he has seen very, very wealthy people, so wealthy that they give testimonial interviews to, and name schools after, and everything, but they&#8217;re miserable. Nobody loves them, he added.
Buffett has often stressed that money doesn&#8217;t buy happiness and he lives out this philosophy by living a relatively modest lifestyle. In the Forbes billionaires list, he is in the sixth place, boasting of $143.7 billion in wealth. He is also known for his charity, having pledged 99% of his wealth to philanthropy&nbsp;during his lifetime or at death.&nbsp;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40917216/elon-musk-says-warren-buffett-is-positioning-for-kamala-harris-win-with-his-277b-cash-pile-as-pr">Elon Musk Says Warren Buffett Is Positioning For Kamala Harris Win With His $277B Cash Pile As Pro-Trumper John Paulson Warns Of Equity Market Exit</a>
How To Succeed In Life: When the investment guru was asked to give advice as to how to succeed in life, he said by far the best investment one can make is in oneself. Buffett said he used to advise students that if they learned to communicate better, both orally and written, they can increase their value at least by 50%.
One has to be able to get their ideas across, he said, adding that acquiring it is easy. He noted that he took a Dale Carnegie course for it.
&#8220;If you invest in yourself nobody can take it away from you I mean you and the second thing,&#8221; Buffett said.
Secondly he said one should take care of their mind and body. &#8220;You get exactly one mind and one body in this world. And you can&#8217;t start taking care of it when you&#8217;re 50,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;
A life advice he gave out was to associate with people that are better than you. &#8220;You will go in the direction of the people that you associate with and you want to have the right heroes,&#8221; he said, adding that if you want to emulate somebody better, you better pick very carefully whom you want to emulate.
Buffett said of the people who you admire, who you want to copy and the most important for most people is their spouse. &#8220;You&#8217;ll want to pick a spouse that&#8217;s a little better than you,&#8221; he said.
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Psychology

Warren Buffett's Definition Of Success Has Nothing To Do With Wealth But About These 2 Things: Here's Why Ultra-Rich Are Often Miserable

This week, the Federal Reserve&#8216;s decision to reduce interest rates by 50 basis points boosted share prices across the technology, construction, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40937291/bank-stocks-hit-inflection-point-after-feds-50-basis-point-cut-analyst-reveal-top-p" rel="noreferrer noopener">industrial, machinery, and financial sectors</a>.
These eleven large-cap stocks were the best performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?
<ol>
<li>Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NASDAQ">CEG</a>) stock jumped 30.11% last week after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40957437" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">signing a 20-year power purchase agreement</a> with Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) to help launch the Crance Clean Energy Center and restart Three Mile Island Unit 1.</li>
<li>Vistra Inc.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VST#NYSE">VST</a>) stock gained 26.10% last week after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40943063" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the company executed definitive agreements</a> with affiliates of Nuveen Asset Management and Avenue Capital Management II to acquire their combined 15% equity interest in Vistra Vision.</li>
<li>Carvana Co.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>) shares increased 22.52%. Evercore ISI raised its price forecast <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CVNA/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on the stock from&nbsp;$142&nbsp;to&nbsp;$157</a>.</li>
<li>Symbotic Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYM#NASDAQ">SYM</a>) stock gained 19.06% last week as stocks in the broader industrial space jumped following the Fed&#8217;s announcement to cut rates by 50 basis points, which could support investment and economic growth.</li>
<li>Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUOL#NASDAQ">DUOL</a>) stock was up 17.32% in the last week.</li>
<li>James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JHX#NYSE">JHX</a>) stock upped 16.38% as stocks in the broader industrial space jumped following the Fed&#8217;s announcement to cut rates by 50 basis points, which could support investment and economic growth. The company also announced it has repurchased up to 8.4 million of its shares.</li>
<li>Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPL#NYSE">TPL</a>) gained 15.73% as stocks of oil and gas companies soared amid a rise in the price of oil after the Fed rate cut, which could lift the demand outlook.</li>
<li>CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>) stock gained 15.71% as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/crwd/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">several analysts</a> maintained their buy forecasts and said the customer backlash following the software incident had largely passed.</li>
<li>Maplebear Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CART#NASDAQ">CART</a>) shares rose 13.92%</li>
<li>Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBLY#NASDAQ">MBLY</a>) stock jumped 13.47%&nbsp;last week after Intel Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) assured investors it would not drop its majority stake in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40949356" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Israeli autonomous driving company</a>.</li>
<li>Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LI#NASDAQ">LI</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40946478" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stock rose 12.66%</a>. Stocks of several U.S.-listed Chinese companies gained ahead of expectations that the People&#8217;s Bank of China will cut rates.</li>
</ol>
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Photo by Ihor Bondarenko on Shutterstock

CART

CRWD

CVNA

DUOL

INTC

MBLY

MSFT

Constellation Energy, Li Auto And Carvana Are Among Top 11 Large Cap Gainers Last Week (Sept 16-Sept 20): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

In a Saturday X exchange with venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, Elon Musk explained <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40145805/elon-musk-says-his-endorsement-of-trump-doesnt-mean-he-agrees-with-everything-ex-president-is-saying">his reason for endorsing Donald Trump in the 2024 race</a>.
Pro- Biden In 2020: Unlike Trump and his team, Musk doesn&#8217;t think the 2020 election wasn&#8217;t stolen. Musk had a different explanation for the Democratic Party&#8217;s win. &#8220;All the independent voters I know, myself included, leaned towards [Joe] Biden, thinking he would be a milquetoast moderate. Boring, but moderate,&#8221; he said.
Incidentally, Khosla also identified himself as an independent. &#8220;Remember I am an independent, not a democrat or a republican. There are democrats, independents, republicans and then there are a&#x2A;&#x2A;hole MAGA extremists,&#8221; he had said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40917216/elon-musk-says-warren-buffett-is-positioning-for-kamala-harris-win-with-his-277b-cash-pile-as-pr">Elon Musk Says Warren Buffett Is Positioning For Kamala Harris Win With His $277B Cash Pile As Pro-Trumper John Paulson Warns Of Equity Market Exit</a>
What&#8217;s Has Changed: Explaining why he changed side this time around, Musk said Biden turned out to be a &#8220;radical leftist puppet of the machine who loves overreaching bureaucracy, just like Kamala [Harris].&#8221;
That&#8217;s why Musk and almost all independent voters he knew were supporting Trump this time, he said.
Taking a potshot at Khosla, Musk said, &#8220;Now, you stop being a damn hypocrite and have some empathy for small towns throughout America getting swamped by 10,000+ poorly vetted migrants. It's not right.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">No, I don't think 2020 was stolen, as all the independent voters I know, myself included, leaned towards Biden, thinking he would be a milquetoast moderate. Boring, but moderate. Unfortunately, he turned out to be a radical leftist puppet of the machine who loves overreaching…
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1837634071289069730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Replying to him, the Sun Microsystems co-founder said, &#8220;I have to agree that Biden&#8217;s treatment of Tesla as the EV leader was unfair so I understand your ire towards him.&#8221; It is a known secret that the Biden administration <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/12/36378996/elon-musks-yuletide-grudge-tesla-ceo-still-cross-with-biden-for-giving-cold-shoulder-2-years-ago">valued General Motors and Ford over Tesla</a> as flagbearers of the U.S. electric vehicle revolution. 
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Elon Musk Says Biden Belied His 2020 Expectations And Turned Out To Be A 'Radical Leftist Puppet': Why Billionaire Is Supporting Trump This Time Around

Pop music legend Janet Jackson has been subjected to intense backlash after she questioned the racial <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40869733/trump-stumbles-again-over-health-care-issues-involving-abortion-and-obamacare">background of Vice President Kamala Harris</a>.
What Happened: The uproar originated from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/21/janet-jackson-interview-on-bad-relationships-new-music-and-kamala-harris">an</a> interview Jackson gave to The Guardian last Saturday.
In the interview, Jackson, aged 58, expressed doubts about Harris&#8217; racial identity, saying, &#8220;She&#8217;s not Black. That&#8217;s what I heard. That she&#8217;s Indian&#8230; Her father&#8217;s white. That&#8217;s what I was told.&#8221;
These comments have incited a wave of outrage among fans and followers, who took to various social media platforms to voice their disappointment. One user criticized Jackson, stating, &#8220;This is why she&#8217;s irrelevant and leeching off of her brothers&#8217; success.&#8221;
Some critics have drawn comparisons between Jackson&#8217;s statements and those made by former President Donald Trump, who had also questioned Harris&#8217; racial identity during a conference of black journalists in July.
Jackson later issued a public apology for her comments about Harris.
According to a report <a href="https://deadline.com/2024/09/janet-jackson-apology-kamala-harris-comments-based-misinformation-1236096552/">by</a> Deadline, Mo Elmasri, Jackson&#8217;s manager, admitted that the singer had made misinformed comments about Harris&#8217; family and ethnicity during the interview.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40869086/trump-vs-harris-new-poll-reveals-post-debate-swing-towards-this-candidate-in-key-state">Trump Vs Harris: New Poll Reveals Post-Debate Swing Towards This Candidate In Key State</a>
Jackson had made assumptions about Harris&#8217; racial background, seemingly without full understanding of the facts.
In a statement <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseastewart/janet-jackson-kamala-harris-comments-apology">to</a> Buzzfeed, Elmasri said, &#8220;Janet deeply respects Vice President Kamala Harris and her accomplishments as a Black and Indian woman. Janet apologizes for any confusion caused and acknowledges the importance of accurate representation in public discourse.&#8221;
Harris&#8217; father is a Jamaican-American economics professor, and her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a celebrated breast cancer researcher from southern India.
Why It Matters: This incident underscores the importance of accurate representation and information in public discourse, especially when discussing individuals in positions of power and influence. 
Misinformed comments can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and misinformation, leading to confusion and potential harm. As a public figure, Jackson&#8217;s comments have a wide reach, making it crucial for her to verify information before sharing it publicly. This apology serves as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with public platforms.
Furthermore, this incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by individuals of diverse backgrounds in the public eye. Harris, as a Black and Indian woman, has faced scrutiny and misinformation about her background throughout her career. 
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting and acknowledging diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40667209/trump-vs-harris-new-polls-reveal-this-candidate-is-outperforming-in-swing-states" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Vs Harris: New Polls Reveal This Candidate Is Outperforming In Swing States</a>
This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Entertainment

Janet Jackson Faces Backlash Over Kamala Harris Racial Identity Comments, Issues Apology For Misrepresenting Harris

Andreea Matei made several video reviews for Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) products. It wasn&#8217;t long before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/07/33207129/he-quit-a-6-figure-finance-job-to-make-youtube-videos-now-hes-making-more-money-than-ever-before">money started pouring in</a>.
What To Know: Matei caught the bug for reviewing Amazon products as a side hustle when she first received $1.28 in commission based on one of her short videos. Since then, she has made close to $22,000 in eight months from approximately 1,000 videos.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMZN">Amazon</a> has an influencer program that pays members a commission based on sales that take place after a consumer watches a video review. 
In November, Matei decided to give it a try and it wasn&#8217;t long before she was hooked.
&#8220;I made $40 a day, then $50 the next day, then $100. I had to keep going. It was so much fun,&#8221; Matei said.
Most of her videos are about a minute long and they take up to 20 minutes to film and edit. According to documents reviewed by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/29/andreea-matei-passive-side-hustle-amazon-video-reviews.html">CNBC</a>, she&#8217;s averaging about $2,700 a month in passive income from her review videos and she only spends about three hours a week filming and editing content.
&#8220;Once you create videos, it's totally passive.&nbsp;I have not had any time to make videos this week, and the money still keeps coming in,&#8221;&nbsp;Matei said.&nbsp;&nbsp;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/32100082/heres-how-this-31-year-old-makes-105-000-a-month-by-only-working-2-hours-a-day">Here&#8217;s How This 31-Year-Old Makes $105,000 A Month By Only Working 2 Hours A Day</a>
She started off reviewing products that she could see herself using around the house, but after she started <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/07/33289234/from-zero-to-5-5-million-in-3-years-how-this-first-time-investor-made-it-big-buying-real-estate">generating significant income</a>, Amazon sellers started reaching out to her. Now sellers send her free products and pay her to review them and post the videos on social media.
The payouts for different products vary greatly and Amazon is always changing how its algorithms work, but it&#8217;s well worth her time, she said, adding it keeps her from getting burned out at her day job where she teaches clients how to grow their small businesses.
&#8220;Amazon is fickle, so I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket. But my goal is to make it a six-figure side hustle on top of my regular business,&#8221; Matei said.
Photo: courtesy of Amazon.
This story is part of a new series of features on the subject of success, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/benzinga-inspire">Benzinga Inspire</a>. Some elements of this story were previously reported by Benzinga and it has been updated.
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Amazon Product Review Side Hustle Brings In $2,700 A Month In Passive Income: 'I Have Not Had Any Time To Make Videos ... The Money Still Keeps Coming In'

Analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40872864/apple-staring-at-lower-than-expected-demand-for-iphone-16-pro-and-pro-max-in-the-fi">flashed a red flag regarding lukewarm preorders</a> for Apple, Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) newest iPhone iteration, but one analyst doubled down on his bullish take on iPhone 16 as it went on sale this weekend.
The Apple Analyst: Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives maintained an Outperform rating and $300 price target for Apple shares.
The Apple Thesis: Apple is off to a strong demand start, Ives said, citing Asian supply checks. Although Apple Intelligence will be released in phases over the coming months, this iPhone 16 upgrade cycle will be over 90 million units on initial launch and be up roughly 8 million to 10 million units from iPhone 15, he said. The demand has been tracking well so far, with an estimated 300 million iPhones of the 1.5 billion iPhones not upgrading in four years, he added. 
Apple is focused on driving a robust December holiday season for iPhone 16 with many features rolled out over the coming months, Ives said. He estimates that the company can sell more than 240 million iPhone units in fiscal year 2025.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-tech-stocks">Best Tech Stocks Right Now</a>
The analyst sees China as the front and center, as he expects more partnerships on for large-language models around Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>) over the coming months. &#8220;That will fill in a missing piece of the AI puzzle in the key China market as OpenAI in its marquee partnership will launch the most sophisticated personal assistant for consumers with ChatGPT fueled by Apple&#8217;s new A18 chip,&#8221; he said.
The analyst conceded Huawei trifold smartphone could be another disruptive force in the Chinese smartphone market. But Apple with its iPhone 16 upgrades could sell about 50 million units in this region is fiscal year 2025, he said.
The next step to drive installed base in the Apple Intelligence, Ives said. &#8220;We believe over 20% of world&#8217;s consumer population will ultimately interact with AI through an Apple device over the coming years,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;This is the beginning of an AI driven iPhone super-cycle that should enable Apple to break its historical mark for iPhone units in a year and translate into a $4 trillion market cap for Cupertino in 2025,&#8221; the analyst said. 
Apple Stock: Apple ended Friday&#8217;s session down 0.29% at $228.20, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro data</a>. The stock has, nevertheless, added about 19% so far this year.
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As Apple's iPhone 16 Goes On Sale, Analyst Says Demand Off To Strong Start Keeping Cupertino On Track To Hit $4T Market Cap

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The Wall Street Journal Reported Sunday, Taiwan Semiconductor, Samsung Discussed Building Middle Eastern Megafactories

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